MARGAO
The South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) has resolved to develop the stinking wholesale fish market with funds from the centrally-sponsored Prime Minister’s scheme.
The PDA, however, has resolved that the land in question will be handed over to the Fisheries Department for development only by entering into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and on condition the ownership of the land vests with the planning body.
At the meeting of the SGPDA held on Friday, PDA Chairman, Nuvem MLA Wilfred D’Sa informed that the wholesale fish market will be developed with central funds amounting to Rs 30 crore, saying that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has promised to chip in the State portion of the funds amounting to Rs 20 crore.
“The proposal for the development of the wholesale fish market has gone to the government. We are, however, treading a cautious path since members have all insisted that the ownership of the market vests with the PDA even after development of the market with central funding,” he added.
The PDA chairman reassured that the PDA will go in for the development of the wholesale fish market with central funding only if the ownership of the land vests with the PDA.
Meanwhile, the SGPDA has said the PDA has agreed to allow the wholesale fish traders additional two hours’ time to park their vehicles in the market between 9 am to 11 am. He, however, said the traders will not be able to sell the fish during this period.
He said the PDA has also decided to waive off the fees payable by the 10 fish cutters in the fish markets since the markets were shut during the Covid pandemic.
He further said the PDA will go for the development of plots on the land owned by the PDA at Usgao-Ponda, since the existing building has shown signs of crumbling down.
